Assistance: The project started in
1996 with the financial assistance of CORDAID, Netherlands.
Objective: To create awareness about
evil effects of child labour and its eradication and to form
child labour free villages
Focus on : Working children, school
going children and their parents
Target area: Thovalai block of Kanyakumari
District
The strategic approach consisted of
Conducting NFE classes
Promotion of awareness among parents and community
Formation of Children's clubs
Formation of Children Libraries
Formation of Self Help Groups
Integration in existing SHGs
Formation of Youth clubs
Supplementary Education to Children
Prevention of school dropouts
Strengthening parent teacher associations
Re-enrolment in schools
Alternative skill development
Facilitating Income Generation Activities
Formation of Village Committees
Central Co-ordination Committee
Village Committee:
All the activities at the village level were co-ordinated
by a village level committee consisting of the representatives
of SHG, Children Club, Youth Club, Village leaders and one
of the project staff.
Central Co-ordination Committee:
The Central Co-ordination Committee strengthened the activities
of all people's organisations through the process of networking
and monitored the activities of Village Committee. The Central
Co-ordination Committee also organised various public meetings,
awareness meetings, trainings and a mega School Enrolment
Campaign in all the target villages during summer vacation
to prevent dropouts.
Campaign for Enrollment and Elimination
of school dropouts:
Assistance: The campaign programme
for the cent percent enrollment of school children was assisted
by NetAid, New York.
Objective: To enroll all children
between the age of 6 and 10 in schools and the re-enrolled
the dropouts below the age of 15
Focus on : Dropout children and School going children
Target area : Tuticorin District
Activities:
To increase the efficiency and capacity of the different
stakeholders, capacity building trainings were organised to
staff and volunteers. To facilitate the involvement of the
CBOs in the entire process, strategy building trainings were
organised to the CBO leaders and members.
Orientation about the project
Importance of education
Reasons for dropouts
Strategies for re-enrolling dropouts
Role of CBOs in enrollment of children
To increase the level of motivation of the parents and teachers
and ensure enrollment and retainment in the schools, Motivational
Trainings were organised to the parents and teachers. Involvement
of parents in school enrolment is an essential requirement
of the programme. To create awareness among parents on the
importance of child education, the partner NGOs conducted
parents meeting. Sometimes parents themselves become the cause
for their children's dropouts. They have to be educated on
their participation in school education.
Another important area of focus of this project was strengthening
the existing Parent teachers Associations and forming new
parent teacher associations where they did not exist. An effective
PTA can definitely contribute a lot for the development of
the school and to improve the quality of education and to
make the school child friendly.
All these activities aimed at Enrolment of children those
who not enrolled and Re-enrollment of the dropout children.
As a result of the activities, 5552 children were re-enrolled
and 25,554 children were enrolled in schools. More than enrollment,
the children developed a very positive approach towards education,
teachers and schools.
The major achievement of the programme was that it created
proper awareness among the people on the importance education,
involvement of parents, need for child friendly school, parent
teacher association and the role of CBOs in ensuring cent
per cent school going children village. It motivated the parents
of dropouts to re-enroll their children.
This programme helped to strengthen the relationship among
the NGOs and government authorities. It encouraged the active
participation of all people in the programme. It gave an opportunity
for the SHGs for active participation in the enrolment of
school children. It motivated government authorities to open
special schools for dropout children. It helped people understand
that 'education to all children' is a social responsibility.
Safeguarding
Early Childhood:
The CRECHE programme was a community based care programme
for children below 5 years of age. Two crèches were
managed by CSR - one at Mylaudy and another at Chembagaraman
Puthoor of Kanyakumari district. The creche programme was
supported by the Central Welfare Board.
Through this programme yearly 60 children of rural farmers
and other marginalized people, were taken care of by:
Providing nutritious food
Play way method of teaching
Providing play materials
Providing health care
One teacher and one aaya were in charge of each crèche.
Local people provided the buildings for the creche.
In addition to the care and teaching of the children, other
activities carried out include:
Monthly meeting of the parents were conducted. The parents
actively participated in these meetings.
Two tailoring training units were started and regular
training were given to women.
The programme would be sustained through the active participation
and co-operation of the people of the community.
